News Briefs: Week of July 5-9

This roundup includes the following news briefs:

The FDA is evaluating data from two clinical trials in which patients with type 2 diabetes who were taking olmesartan, which is marketed as Benicar, had a higher rate of cardiovascular-related deaths than patients taking a placebo.

The agency said in a June 11 safety announcement that its review of the blood pressure medication is ongoing, and it has not concluded that olmesartan increases the risk of cardiovascular-related death. The FDA said the benefits of the drug for patients with hypertension outweigh its potential risks.

The agency also said patients should not stop treatment with olmesartan unless told to do so by their physician.

Olmesartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker, or ARB. According to the FDA, other clinical trials evaluating ARBs, including olmesartan, have not suggested an increased risk for cardiovascular-related death.

Physicians should follow the recommendations on the drug label when prescribing olmesartan, the FDA said. The agency also urged physicians to report adverse events involving the drug to the FDA MedWatch program.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology have released a list of frequently asked questions (17-page PDF; About PDFs) relative to the application of federal substance abuse confidentiality regulations to health information exchanges.

According to a June 17 news bulletin, the federal regulations govern the use and disclosure of patient records on individuals receiving treatment for drug and alcohol abuse when such records are maintained by federally funded substance abuse programs.

HHS has launched a new online tool to help consumers obtain and compare information about public and private health plans.

The website, HealthCare.gov, was created as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. It serves as a central database of health coverage options and provides information about public insurance programs, such as Medicare and the newly created pre-existing conditions insurance plan, as well as information on more than 1,000 private plans. Consumers can view quality rankings for local health care providers and preventive services, according to a July 1 HHS press release.

The website also serves as a one-stop shop for information about the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as well as other health care resources.

The Accreditation Council on Continuing Medical Education, or ACCME, has additional guidance on the role of commercial interest employees in accredited CME.

In a June 28 press release, the ACCME said its updated guidance outlines ACCME standards for ensuring independence for CME about discovery and research.

The guidance is in the ACCME's Standards for Commercial Support, 1: Independence. According to the press release, the council's objective in providing the guidance is to support the free flow of scientific exchange while safeguarding accredited CME from commercial influence.

The Health Resources and Services Administration, or HRSA, is seeking nominations for the National Health Service Corps Advisory Council, which advises the HHS secretary, the HRSA administrator and the director of the National Health Service Corps, or NHSC, on national health policies relating to the NHSC. The advisory committee, known as NAC, also identifies strategic policies.

The NAC comprises a diverse group of primary care clinicians, NHSC alumni, faculty, site administrators, community representatives and others who are experts in the recruitment and retention of clinicians and practice sites for the NHSC. The NAC's focus areas for 2010-11 include recruitment and retention, organizational partnerships and customer service. Nominations should be submitted to Njeri Jones via e-mail or by phone at (301) 443-2541, by July 16. Recommendations should include a curriculum vitae and a biography.